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链条 (liàn tiáo) — chain (series of connected metal rings or linked items)

Definition

链条 refers to a physical chain of connected links (like on a bicycle or machine), or an abstract linked sequence such as a supply chain or chain reaction. Used in both concrete and figurative contexts, including scientific terms like 链式反应.

noun
chain (series of connected metal rings or linked items)
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 链条。
    Zhè tái jī qì de liàn tiáo xū yào gēng huàn le.
    The chain on this machine needs to be replaced.
  • 链条。
    Zhè ge liàn tiáo zài gōng yìng liàn zhōng hěn zhòng yào.
    This chain is very important in the supply chain.
  • 链条。
    Zhè yí chuàn liàn tiáo fǎn yìng ràng kē xué jiā hěn jīng yà.
    This chain reaction surprised the scientists.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

链liànchain
条tiáostrip

链 gives the sense of linked rings and 条 of a long strip, together naming a chain.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鏈; 链 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
連
連lián鏈liàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 鏈 pairs 金 (metal) with 連, which gives the sound; the simplified 链 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 链 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 條; 条 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu條tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 條 pairs 木, a small branch or stick, with 攸, which shows a person warned by a hand holding a stick, as a sound part; 条 is a later shortened shape.

Open 条 →
Appears in
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